Driving tools

Abstract

A driving tool may include a tool body, a magazine and a restricting member. The magazine may be coupled to the tool body and may be configured to store a fastener strip having fasteners connected in series with each other. The restricting member may be configured to permit the fastener strip to be inserted into the magazine to a predetermined position when the fastener strip is in a first orientation. The restricting member may prevent the fastener strip from being inserted into the magazine in the feeding direction to reach the predetermined position when the fastener strip is in a second orientation that is different from the first orientation.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A driving tool comprising:
 a tool body; 
 a magazine coupled to the tool body and configured to receive a fastener strip, the fastener strip being inserted into the magazine by moving in a feeding direction, the fastener strip having fasteners connected in the series with each other, the fasteners being arranged in parallel to each other and displaced from each other in axial directions of the fasteners; and 
 a restricting member permitting the fastener strip to be inserted into the magazine in the feeding direction to reach a predetermined position for a driving operation by the tool body when the fastener strip is properly oriented, the restricting member preventing the fastener strip from being inserted into the magazine in the feeding direction to reach the predetermined position when the fastener strip is improperly oriented, 
 wherein the axial directions of the fasteners are substantially parallel to a driving direction of the fasteners when the fastener strip is properly oriented; 
 the axial directions of the fasteners are not parallel to the driving direction of the fasteners when the fastener strip is improperly oriented, 
 the restricting member is mounted within the magazine and includes a guide portion and a restricting portion; 
 as the properly oriented fastener strip is inserted into the magazine in the feeding direction, the fastener strip interacts with the guide portion to cause movement of the restricting portion from a restricting position to a rest position, so that the fastener strip is permitted to reach the predetermined position; 
 as the improperly oriented fastener strip is inserted into the magazine in the feeding direction, the fastener strip interacts with the restricting portion, so that the fastener strip is prevented from reaching to the predetermined position; 
 the guide portion and the restricting portion of the restricting member are formed integrally with each other as a single-piece member; 
 the restricting member further includes a base portion, the base portion being fixedly attached to a wall of a nail storage space of the magazine; 
 the restricting portion extends rearwardly from the base portion in a direction opposite to the feeding direction: and 
 the guide portion, the restricting portion and the base portion of the restricting member are formed integrally with each other as the single-piece member. 
 
     
     
       2. The driving tool as in  claim 1 , wherein
 as the properly oriented fastener strip is inserted into the magazine in the feeding direction, the fastener strip first interacts with the guide portion; and 
 as the improperly oriented fastener strip is inserted into the magazine in the feeding direction, the fastener strip first interacts with the restricting portion. 
 
     
     
       3. The driving tool as in  claim 1 , further comprising a stopper member configured to prevent movement of the fastener strip from moving in a direction opposite to the feeding direction after the fastener strip has reached to the predetermined position. 
     
     
       4. The driving tool as in  claim 3 , wherein the stopper member is formed integrally with the restricting member as the single-piece member. 
     
     
       5. The driving tool as in  claim 1 , wherein the fastener strip has a substantially lozenge shape and has a front end in the feeding direction, the front end is inclined in a first direction relative to a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction when the properly oriented fastener strip is inserted into the magazine, and the front end is inclined in a second direction relative to the direction perpendicular to the feeding direction when the improperly oriented fastener strip is inserted into the magazine, and the first direction and the second direction are opposite to each other. 
     
     
       6. The driving tool as in  claim 1 , wherein the fasteners are nails. 
     
     
       7. A driving tool comprising:
 a tool body; 
 a magazine coupled to the tool body and configured to store a fastener strip having fasteners connected in series with each other, the fastener strip being inserted into the magazine by moving in a feeding direction; and 
 a restricting member configured to permit the fastener strip to be inserted into the magazine to a predetermined position when the fastener strip is in a first orientation, the restricting member preventing the fastener strip from being inserted into the magazine in the feeding direction to reach the predetermined position when the fastener strip is in a second orientation that is different from the first orientation; 
 wherein the restricting member is mounted within the magazine and includes a guide portion and a restricting portion; 
 as the fastener strip in the first orientation is inserted into the magazine in the feeding direction, the fastener strip interacts with the guide portion to cause movement of the restricting portion from a restricting position to a rest position, so that the faster strip is permitted to reach the predetermined position; 
 as the fastener strip in the second orientation is inserted in to the magazine in the feeding direction, the fastener strip interacts with the restricting portion, so that the fastener strip is prevented from reaching to the predetermined position; 
 the guide portion and the restricting portion of the restricting member are formed integrally with each other as a single-piece member; 
 the restricting member further includes a base portion, the base portion being fixedly attached to a wall of a nail storage space of the magazine; 
 the restricting portion extends rearwardly from the base portion in a direction opposite to the feeding direction; and 
 the guide portion, the restricting portion and the base portion of the restricting member are formed integrally with each other as the single-piece member. 
 
     
     
       8. The driving tool as in  claim 7 , wherein the first orientation and the second orientation are opposite to each other. 
     
     
       9. The driving tool as in  claim 1 , wherein the feeding direction is inclined relative to a direction perpendicular to the driving direction of the fasteners. 
     
     
       10. The driving tool as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the restricting portion is positioned on the side of a loading portion of the magazine with respect to the base portion, and 
 the guide portion is positioned on the side of the loading portion of the magazine with respect to the restricting portion. 
 
     
     
       11. The driving tool as in  claim 7 , wherein:
 the restricting portion is positioned on the side of a loading portion of the magazine with respect to the base portion, and 
 the guide portion is positioned on the side of the loading portion of the magazine with respect to the restricting portion. 
 
     
     
       12. The driving tool as in  claim 7 , wherein the feeding direction is inclined relative to a direction perpendicular to a driving direction of the fasteners.